Knife block



C. T. GOULD KNIFE BLOCK Sept. 17, 1929.

Filed Feb. 20 1928 jZz/vwzZm [@ariea GauZzZ.

, Z l ui 1 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES '1. GOULD, OF WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY H. BECK- WI'IH, OIE BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS KNIFE BLOCK Application filed February 20, 1928.

This invention relates to heating devices for heating blades of tools for applying hot material. More particularly, the invention may be embodied in an improved form of knife block of the kind used with heaters for shoe filler material. The shoe filler material used with this kind of apparatus is applied hot and is usually applied, smoothed and compacted with an instrument resembling an ordinary putty knife, the blade of which must be kept hot so as to slide easily over the filler and not stick thereto when it is spread in the bottom of the shoe. As the blade of the knife cannot retain its heat long owing to its relative thinness, the operator ordinarily changes knives frequently. For this purpose, a plurality of knives are thrust into a heated knife block so that while one is being used, the others are heating. As a good operator works very rapidly and requires frequent changes of knives, it is necessary for the knives to be reheated quickly to avoid delaying the operator. It is desirable to accomplish this with the lowest block temperatures consistent with requisite speed of heating, both for economy of heat and for the comfort of the operator. According to the present invention, greater heating speed is attained without increase of block temperature by structure, which results in more eflicient transfer of heat to the knives. The knife block embodying this invention is furthermore constructed to facilitate the introduction of knife blades thereinto, and is also preferably adjustable to suit the convenience of. the individual operator. To this end, the block may be mounted on an adjustable bracket which may be readily raised, lowered or swung around to any desired position. A hot roller for further smoothing and compacting filler which has been freshly spread in a shoe bottom may also be supported on the same bracket with the knife block and in proximity thereto so that both may be in a convenient position for frequent use.

Various other advantageous features of construction will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description of the invention, and from the drawing, of-

which,

Serial No. 255,719.

Figure 1 represents a shoe filler heater havlng attached thereto a knife block embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the knife block and the heated roll, portions being broken away.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the knife block and roller.

F i2gure 4 is a section on the line it-4 of Figure Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the piping oint connecting the block and the roller.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the block showing a pair of shoe filler knives in position therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 represents a shoe filler heater which is provided with any suitable heating elements by which quantltles of shoe filler material of the type characterized by a mixture of ground cork and wax tailings with or without other ingredients, may be maintained in suitable condition for spreading in the bottoms of shoes. The application of shoe filler to the bottom of shoes and. the spreading of the filler therein is ordinarily performed by the use of a spreading knife somewhat similar to an ordinary putty knife. In order to facilitate the spreading and compacting operation in the shoe bottom and to prevent sticking of the thermoplastic constituents of the shoe filler to the knives, the latter must be kept heated. By maintaining the knives at a temperature considerably above that of the shoe filler itself, the knives more readily assistin the smoothing and compacting of the filler in the shoe bottoms since the heat of the knives helps to condition the filler as it is being spread. The blades of the knives are usually relatively thin like the blade of a putty knife so that they cannot retain their heat for any considerable periods. Hence frequent change of knives by an operator is necessary. In order to maintain a supply of heated knives available, a knife block is usually supplied into which the knives may be thrust and exchanged for other 100 knives in the block which have meanwhile become heated. According to this invention, the knife block is constructed to facilitate the insertion of knives therein and to hasten the reheating of the blades. To this end, the block may comprise a piece of solid metal 11 which may be ored through laterally as at 12 to contain an electrical heating unit 13 elosedfitt'ed thereinto. The block 11 is preferably formed with upper and lower faces 14, 15 against which suitable metal plates 16 and 17 are pressed. For this purpose, a pair of pins 18 may be provided for each plate, the plates 16 and 17 being suitably apertured to receive the pins 18 therethrough. On the pins 18 may be mounted springs 19 which are suitably compressed to push the plates 16 and 17 against the block 11. This structure results in a quicker and more efficient heating of the knife blades than is possible with a block having a fixed slot therein'to receive the blades. By this construction, when no blade is between the block 11 and the plate 16, for example, the plate is pressed against the up per surface of the block and thus receives heat therefrom by direct contact more eflici-ently than if it were separated therefrom by an air gap. As a result, whena knife is thrust be tween thep'lat'e 16 and block 11, it is heated from both sides simultaneously, that is, not only from the block 11, but from the plate 16 which has been heated by contact with the block. The same effect occurs between the plate 17 and the block 11.

The block 11 is preferably shaped as shown in Figure 4 with a curved or bulging front edge 20 so as to facilitate the reception of knives from a range of directions extending over a considerable are. This edge, as shown in Figure 5, is preferably provided with a double bevel as at 21. Cooperating with the bevel surfaces 21, suitable flaring lips 22 may be provided on the forward edges of the plates 16, 17, so that the insertion of knives between the block 11 and the plates 16 or 17 is thus greatly facilitated. This makes for efiicient operation and tends to increase the output of the operator as well as resulting in a saving of effort on the part of the operator. The block is preferably mounted on an adjustable bracket so as to be capable of being positioned for the convenience of the individual operator. As shown in Figure 1, the bracket may comprise a horizontal arm 23 which is gripped by a clamp 24 andsupported by a suitable standard 25. Bylooseningthe clamp 24, the arm 23 may be adjustably slid or turned as desired. At an end of the arm 23 is mounted a suitable two-armed bracket 26, one arm supporting the knife block, the lower arm supporting a roller 27 which may be used, if desired, to smooth and compact the layer of shoe filler spread in the bottom of a shoe with the knife. The block as a whole may be arranged in'a plane parallel to the axis of the roller and with its lateral axis extending at an angle to the axis of the roller as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This arrangement serves the convenience of the average right-handed operator, the knife being held in the operators right hand and thrust into the block from that side, whereas the shoe is held in the left hand and is thrust forwardly from the left for contact with the roller 27. The roller 27 may be provided with a heating unit 28, the heating units 13 and 28 being conveniently connected to the knife contacts 29 of a suitable plug by which they may be connected to any suitable source of electric current.

In using the apparatus, an operator takes a heated knife 30 from the block and fills shoe bottoms as long as the knife blade continues sufficiently hot. He then thrusts the knife back into place, the flaring surfaces 21 and 22 guiding the tip of the blade in between the plate 16 and the block 11. The other knife is thereupon used, the first knife meanwhile being reheated by contact with the hot block 11 and hot plate 16.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. A tool-heating device comprising a metal block having a recess therein and a face, a heating unit within said recess, a plate, and means yieldably pressing said plate against substantially the entire area of said face.

2. A tool-heating device comprising a metal block having aface conforming to a surface of the tool to be heated, a metal plate resiliently held against a substantial area of said face and conforming to the opposite surface of the tool to be heated, and a heating unit within said block.

3. A tool-heating device comprising a metal block having a face against which a" tool may be placed, a metal plate yieldingly pressed against said face, said plate and block having flaring lips at their forward margins to guide a tool blade between the block and plate, and heating means within the block.

4. A tool-heating device comprising a metal block having a face thereon, a pair of pins fixed in said block at opposite sides of said face, a plate having a surface conforming to said face and a pair of apertures spaced to receive said pins, resilient means mounted on said pins and pressing said plate against said face, and heating means within said block.

5. A tool-heating device comprising a metal block having a pair of fiat faces on opposite sides thereof, a recess in said block between said faces, a heating unit in said recess, a pair of plates each having a flat portion adapted to bear on one of said faces, and means yieldably pressing said plates against said faces.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a metal block of substantial thickness having parallel upper and lower faces and a bore therethrough between said faces, a heating unit within said bore, a pair of plates resiliently pressed against said faces, each of said plates having a lip on the forward edge thereof flaring away from said block, and means resiliently pressing said plates against said faces.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a metal block having a transverse bore ex tending therethrough, a heating unit within said bore, said block also having a flat face thereon of substantial area and an arcuate front edge beveled to extend forwardly away from the plane of said face, a plate shaped to cover said face, said plate having an arcuate front edge registering substantially with the front edge of the block and having a lip formed thereon, said lip curving forwardly away from said block, and resilient means tending to press said plate against the adjacent surface of the block.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a metal block having a transverse bore extending therethrough, a heating unit within said bore, said block also having a flat face thereon of substantial area and an arcuate front edge beveled to extend forwardly away from the plane of said face, a metal plate covering said face, said face having an arcuate lip substantially registering with the forward edge of the block and flaring forwardly from said block, a pair of pins secured in said block and extending loosely through said plate, and springs on said pins pressing said plate against said face.

9. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a bracket, a roller extending substantially horizontally therefrom, a knife block above said roller in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the roller, the lateral axis of the block being at an angle to the axis of the roller, and heating means within said block and said roller.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHARLES T. GOULD. 

